]]>3937Our New Sister Amy is Baptised!http://www.sydneyicc.org/2017/12/07/new-sister-amy-baptised/
Thu, 07 Dec 2017 01:30:26 +0000http://www.sydneyicc.org/?p=3929Amy (centre) making her good confession! Baptised this past Sunday, Amy is a Chinese student studying English at the University of Sydney. Coming from a background of no faith, she chose to courageously study out Continue Reading

Baptised this past Sunday, Amy is a Chinese student studying English at the University of Sydney. Coming from a background of no faith, she chose to courageously study out the scriptures with the West region sisters. Her faith in God grew as she saw miracles happen around her and fell in love with God’s word. Welcome to the kingdom, Amy!

]]>3929Double Miracle Sunday: Daniel and Amos Baptised!http://www.sydneyicc.org/2017/11/17/double-miracle-sunday-daniel-amos-baptised/
Fri, 17 Nov 2017 00:35:13 +0000http://www.sydneyicc.org/?p=3903 Two amazing men has made the incredible decision to get baptised and become Christians this past Sunday! Praise God for growing his church! Now brothers-in-Christ, Daniel and Amos couldn’t come from more different backgrounds! Daniel Continue Reading

Two amazing men has made the incredible decision to get baptised and become Christians this past Sunday! Praise God for growing his church! Now brothers-in-Christ, Daniel and Amos couldn’t come from more different backgrounds!

Daniel is baptised!

Daniel Dube has made Jesus Lord! Daniel is from Zimbabwe and came from a Pentecostal background. He moved to Sydney over a year ago to study IT at the TAFE institute in the heart of the city. Daniel was met over a year ago by Sean and Teigan when they led the Macquarie University campus bible discussion, but never got around to studying the bible. The bible talk then changed up twice with Chi (now in Hong Kong) and now Erick leading the discussions. Meanwhile, Daniel would still come to the bible discussions, but wasn’t able set up bible studies. After three generations of bible talk leaders, the brothers were finally able to pin him down for a bible study and from Daniel’s own words “I ran out of excuses”. After studying with the brothers and wrestling through the scriptures, he surrendered to the truth of God’s word after a period of three months and made Jesus his Lord and Savior. I’m really excited to see what God does in his life! Congratulations Daniel!

Daniel has won the victory in Jesus!

Amos moved from Guangxi, China to Sydney to study commerce at Macquarie University. He was meet by Carl and Jenna in December last year and was invited to Bible Talk. Although Amos didn’t have any knowledge about God and the Bible he still came around and was impacted by the love and fellowship of the Christians. He then studied with several brothers over the past year and has now made Jesus Lord of his life. We are looking forward to the great plans God has for him!

]]>3903Us Against the World – Guest Editorial Delaney Julienhttp://www.sydneyicc.org/2017/10/31/us-world-guest-editorial-delaney-julien/
Mon, 30 Oct 2017 23:08:52 +0000http://www.sydneyicc.org/?p=3844The tightrope that I’m walking just sways and ties The devil as he’s talking with those angel’s eyes And I just want to be there when the lightning strikes And the saints go marching in Continue Reading

The tightrope that I’m walking just sways and ties
The devil as he’s talking with those angel’s eyes
And I just want to be there when the lightning strikes
And the saints go marching in
And sing slow it down
Through chaos as it swirls
It’s us against the world
— Coldplay (Us Against the World)

Do you ever get the feeling that living your life is like walking on a tightrope? You’re standing between two very steep cliffs, not only trying to balance your weight so you don’t go falling into the canyon, but also figuring out how you’re going to take steps to get to the other side. This looked a lot easier before you started. Then the wind starts to pick up and makes the rope sway, and you stumble over your own feet. Now you feel totally out of control and you’re about three seconds from panicking because you’re leaning a little too dangerously to one side. Sound a bit chaotic? How about lonely?

I imagine these same feelings arise when “life happens.” Maybe your job is not giving you the hours you wanted, maybe you realize your roommates are not as perfect as you are, or maybe you even accidentally run the Home Depot truck you rented into the ceiling of your parking garage (that last one was me). And I haven’t even mentioned the sharing campaigns, bible studies, and special missions yet. The truth is, feeling overwhelmed by life can really make you feel like it’s just you against the world.

Isolation is one of Satan’s greatest methods to destroying a disciple’s walk with God. As it says in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” Lions can be very tactful when they hunt for their prey. They almost always go for the animal in the herd that is either injured or young, and they attack when it’s easy to separate them from the rest. Satan’s tactics are the same: he wants you to feel alone like no one understands what you are going through and that you have to handle it on your own. Then it becomes easier to take you out. Disciples can be deceived into thinking that just because they are in the kingdom they won’t ever get lonely, but isolation is something you do to yourself, not that others do to you.

There have been times in my walk with God that I isolated myself without even realizing I was doing it. For example, I had a lot of expectations when I went on my first mission team to Seattle; I was going to crank and baptize 50 people the first year, lead 6 bible talks, and then take over the world. Okay, maybe I wasn’t that outlandish, but I did have dreams in mind that didn’t play out as I’d hoped, and as a result, my relationship with God suffered and I began to pull my heart back from people. In my entitlement, I became critical of those around me, and I stopped making as much of an effort to build deep relationships. I had given Satan a foothold, and he got me on the tightrope by myself.

If you find yourself doing the same things, only spending time with certain people, or maybe desiring to be by yourself more than with disciples, then it might be time for a heart check. Are you feeling overwhelmed by what’s on your plate? Are you discontent with your role in the church? Do you feel lonely? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then I have good news for you: You are not alone!“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

Two weeks ago, I had the privilege of attending a Coldplay concert with several brothers and sisters, and I was blown away by how inspiring the performance was. There was one song that I had never heard before, but quickly connected with, called “Us Against the World.” I listed some of the lyrics above because I felt that they depict much of what a disciple goes through. We are constantly on the attack from the devil, but all we want is to make it to the day “when the lightning strikes and the saints go marching in.” But more than that, I think that it’s a reminder that no matter how chaotic life can get, it’s us against the world. The journey of following Christ is not meant to be walked alone. Jesus himself is leading the way across the tightrope, never letting go of our hands, and when we take a moment to look up, we see our brothers and sisters also balancing on the same rope. We may be at different places across the chasm, some ahead and some behind, but we are together. And since we make up the body of Christ, “if one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26).

My challenge for you is to cling tightly to your brothers and sisters in the kingdom because we are all we have. In today’s time when it seems like something tragic happens every day, we need each other more than ever. If you feel distant from the family, get open with your discipler and repent. Set up quiet times with people you may not be as close with, and go on dates to build tighter friendships. You may find that more people can relate to you than you think. Staying together is the only way that we can conquer the world before it conquers us, for “a cord of three strands is not easily broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12).

And now always remember: slow it down, through chaos as it swirls, it’s US against the world.

]]>3844David Is Baptised Into Christ!http://www.sydneyicc.org/2017/10/15/david-is-baptised-into-christ/
Sun, 15 Oct 2017 08:00:44 +0000http://www.sydneyicc.org/?p=3784 David Zhang is baptised in Sydney! We are so excited to see another Masters student at University become a Christian here in Sydney. David is from a small rural town in Xinjiang province of Continue Reading

David Zhang is baptised in Sydney! We are so excited to see another Masters student at University become a Christian here in Sydney. David is from a small rural town in Xinjiang province of Mainland China. He moved to Australia to study Information Technology (IT) and will be graduating later this year. Funny enough, David always had the dream to go to the United States. David was met by Paulina and Jasmine one day while evangelising around UTS campus. Paulina quickly introduced him to Pete (UTS’s “American” campus leader) to study the bible. David had always wanted to know more about Jesus but never knew how to go about it. He had watched movies and heard stories of the bible and always found them interesting. The brothers were amazed to see David come to faith as he learned more and more of the scriptures. We are so excited to see how God will use this great guy. Congratulations David!

]]>3775Hope for the Islands – Editorial Mason Fetelikahttp://www.sydneyicc.org/2017/10/10/hope-for-the-islands-2/
Tue, 10 Oct 2017 06:37:37 +0000http://www.sydneyicc.org/?p=3564Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise from the ENDS OF THE EARTH, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you ISLANDS, and all who live in Continue Reading

]]>Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise from the ENDS OF THE EARTH, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you ISLANDS, and all who live in them.” Isaiah 42:10

May 3, 2014 was a day I’ll never forget! It was the day that I was privileged to see the Rugby League Match featuring Samoa and Fiji for a chance to play in the 2014 Rugby League Four Nations Tournament. My beautiful wife Nathalie and I were graciously given an opportunity to see our very first rugby game since moving to Australia in December 2013 by our new sister – Keira Walker! For the first time in a very long while, I was proud to be amongst my Samoan people. Growing up in a Polynesian family, I have experienced so many “good times!” However, as I grew older, the number of “bad times” began to supersede the good ones. Sadly, I began singing “a new song” of bitterness and disillusionment. I was born as Mason Semigalio Fetelika on February 19, 1989. About four years later, I found myself as the middle child of five, in a religious Samoan family living in Compton, California. One learns a few important things very quickly if you lived in this particular household: “missing church” is not an option; disobedience is not an option; and family is everything. My parents did their best to put food on the table, make church a priority in our lives, and keep our special Samoan family together. I cannot forget the foundation of Christ laid for me through my parents’ convictions of keeping God in our everyday lives. Family devotionals (all of us sitting in our living room singing “church songs” and a prayer by the “man of the house” – my father) were set in stone into the “Fetelika itinerary” every day. It seemed as if we had all the right puzzle pieces in place for a great up-bringing, even if it was in the infamous city of Compton! Confusion started to settle in at a very young age as “life and doctrine” did not seem to line up in my family and my spiritual family. (1 Timothy 4:16) Dealing with domestic violence at home, fami- lies bickering against other families in church, and a few physical fights in the church parking lot cluttered my young mind. I began to doubt the way of life that was bred into me. In church, we sang praises to God but would leave the building spreading gossip about the flaws of others. Instead of joyful and praiseworthy subjects of conversation, unfortunately, “family” was always the hot and most always a negative topic. Soon my young innocent character became corrupted, as I too joined in condemning those standing next to me in church. (1 Corinthians 15:33) But, I did not like this new me, and I did not like this new realization. Rather, feeling confused and guilty, I wanted to go back to hiding behind the cars in the church parking lot, so that I could boast that I was the winner of hide-and-seek. Things at home also had its ups and downs that added to this new revelation that life was not a fun game of hide-and-seek anymore. I felt like I was trying to be obedient in a disobe- dient system. Questions, qualms and quiet reservations about God and church built up through the years. In high school, I came to the con- clusion that God was someone who did not mind my wicked daily living, as long as I showed up to church on Sunday with a tie, a Bible in hand, and was ready to serve. I concluded that church was a service you had to attend in order to forget the sins you committed throughout the week, and also to please Mom and Dad. Secondly, I concluded that the people closest to you, also known as family, would be the ones to hurt you the most. Frustration froze my heart as “a new song” of praise seemed beyond my faith. I then began singing daily a song of self-pity. I was molested by a close cousin (or a close friend in my mind), family mocked me behind my back, and then I lost my eldest brother Mel to a malignant brain tumor in 2008. Many nights, I sat down like Elijah, and prayed that I might die. (1 Kings 19:4) Yet unlike a repentant Elijah, I did not take stand for God, but for myself and my choice of sins. So, “woe is me” is how I often felt. “See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” (Hebrews 12:15) The roots of bitterness at this point in my life ran deep, and bloomed into a lavish tree of hatred, anger and depression. By early 2009, I completely replaced God with the god of self, church with the god of clubs and parties, and lastly, family with friends. I was so disillusioned about everything in my life, I became a typical young Samoan in Los Angeles: emotionally “jacked,” living with the parents, and easily angered. THANKS be to God that He always had plans to prosper and not to harm me! (Jeremiah 29:11) Even in my deepest times of darkness, He gave me encouragement through precious moments of babysitting my amazingly talented and beautiful niece Jazaleia Feterika! Then God determined the exact time and place (Acts 17:26-27) where I would be on the campus of California State University Fullerton, where my “mother in the faith” Lynda Moreno reached out to me! The Spirit and the an- gels worked to get my “Philip(s)” to me! (Acts 8:26-39) Raul Moreno, Michael Underhill, Joey Un- derhill, Marcos, Daheem Smith, and the “best man” in my wedding Javier Ochoa told me “the good news about Jesus.” (Acts 8:35) The powerful Word of God came to life in me for the first time in 20 years! I had attended church for 20 years, but in a matter of seven or so days, I found the true God, the truth and especially the “true family of God.” For the first time, I was called by the Bible to deal with my lavish tree of sin. I repented and let the hatred go, laid my anger at the cross, and found urgency similar to the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8. Incredibly, I was baptized into Christ for the for- giveness of my sins on March 15, 2009! (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-4) Sadly, many young Polynesians today are suffering with what once spiritually suffocated me. Too many are ignoring their trees of bitterness, anger and depression. Back in LA, Polynesians have a reputation: Polynesians go to church; they are big in statue; they have big families; and they are the nicest and kindest people you will ever meet… as long as you do not get them angry! Be mindful… do not mess with one, because if you do, you will have to deal with the whole family! The Polynesian culture is a beautiful and vibrant culture, yet what we see in our Polynesian youth today is definitely a heart-breaking darkness. The answer to finding the “one true God” is found only in His commands which give us “light to [our] eyes.” (Psalm 19:8) The answer to “true family” is found through obeying the statutes of the Word, and not what our own humanistic cultures tell us what family should be like. Since I was in their number, I now realize that most Polynesians are failing to obey the Word of God as it teaches us the way to live life, but instead are following the ways of the Islands instilled in us since being young infants. God has a plan for not just the Polynesians, but Islanders everywhere! All throughout the Bible, God’s heart to save the whole world is evident. Isaiah 42 teaches that God wants His glory to be sung about from “the ends of the earth.” Well in this passage, “the ends of the earth” equates to the “islands!” It is true that Polynesians are also known for their singing, and here God is calling “Islanders” to sing about Him to “ALL THE ISLANDS!” Although the years of bitterness and disillusionment led me to isolate myself from Polynesians, God has removed my heart of stone, and has given me a heart of flesh for “my people.” (Ezekiel 11:19) Samoa overcame the very tough Fijian Rugby Team that night to advance to the 2014 Rugby League Four Nations Tournament. From the beginning of the festivities surrounding the match, to hearing the Samoan national anthem sung by hundreds of fellow “usos” (brothers in the Samoan language), to seeing “da boyz” perform the Manu Samoa haka, the night ignited in my wife Nathalie and me a strong and special desire. A desire to take “the good news of Jesus” to the thousands of Pacific Islands was born that late evening, on that chilly yet victorious night! I know by faith that someday the Islands will “sing to the Lord a new song!” This song will be a song of forgiveness, genuine love and inexpressible joy! This song will be echoed from one island to another as “all who live in them,” will eventually extend to “the ends of the earth!” This new song aligns with Jesus’ century old great commission to “go and make disciples of ALL nations!” (Matthew 28:18-20) I pray and now dream of a day that Islanders from around the world will stand side by side, united in Christ and performing a “Kingdom Islands haka” before our Savior and King – Jesus Christ… And He will smile! Vi’ia le Atua, Amene! (God be the glory, Amen!)

]]>3564What is Godly Sorrow – Guest Editorial Joel Parlourhttp://www.sydneyicc.org/2017/09/24/what-is-godly-sorrow/
Sun, 24 Sep 2017 12:05:20 +0000http://www.sydneyicc.org/?p=3632 “Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— yet now I Continue Reading

“Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” (2 Corinthians 7:8-10)

Have you had sin in your life that you cannot seem to repent of? Paul gives us the Biblical secret to repentance, and thus, salvation. True Godly sorrow does not just change your momentary struggles, but it changes your heart.

At just 15 years old, I made the biggest decision a person could make when I became baptized as a teenager in Syracuse, New York and made Jesus my Lord. I was studying the Bible as a teen on and off for the previous two years with several amazing men of God in my church. They were tremendously helpful to say the least. I would even say I owe my salvation to them to the same degree that Philemon owed his to Paul (Philemon 1:19).

The Seattle ICC Campus Ministry after an all night prayer on the University of Washington campus.

I knew the depth of the covenant I made with God and sincerely surrendered everything to him. At that point “everything” really referred to my future, as I didn’t have much going on outside of school and playing basketball… lots and lots of basketball. As a teen, I had typical teen struggles. Every so often I would cheat on some homework or lie to my parents. Yet, one sin overshadowed them all, and that was chronic lusting. This lust led to watching pornography and in time watching it regularly, and also falling into impurity with girls, myself, and eventually falling away from God and his grace.

“When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” (James 1:13-15)

The first baptism of the newly-planted Hong Kong International Christian Church, Sylvia!

Although I never said out loud that God was tempting me, my actions and confessions revealed that I blamed my circumstances on God. This caused bitterness which only led to a hardening of my heart and an increase in wicked sin. As a result, I died spiritually. In the same way that Esau’s grudge against Jacob led him to immorality with foreign women (Hebrews 12:15-16; Genesis 27:41, 28:26-29), my bitterness led me down a path of destructive sin. I was back in the party scene, being grossly impure with girls, watching pornography on a regular basis, and lusting nonstop. However, I never missed a church event and no one knew what was happening because it was kept in my heart. The worst part was that I was too ashamed to confess to anybody because I wanted to protect my reputation of being a good kid. Meanwhile, my relationship with God was completely deteriorating.

The Sydney International Christian Church welcomes Tony into the kingdom!

Maybe the struggle you’re facing is not with impurity. Maybe your struggle is just like mine. I want you to know that the secret to repenting of any sin is Godly sorrow. If you can genuinely have a Godly sorrow about your sin – whether minimal or significant in consequence – your change of heart will lead to a change of life. I can now say before the Lord that I have struggled with lust very little for a very long time!

So, what is Godly sorrow? I have read this passage for years and strongly desired a deep understanding of it. Yet, it is not complicated. If we break down this passage we can gain seven challenges for ourselves whenever we face our sin. If we deal with our sin the way the Bible teaches us to, we will gain a godly sorrow which leads to salvation!

“See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what 1earnestness, what 2eagerness to clear yourselves, what 3indignation, what 4alarm, what 5longing, what 6concern, what 7readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.” (2 Corinthians 7:11)

I like to call this the “Seven-Point Inspection”:

Are you earnest? Earnestness can also be defined as diligence. It is impossible to fully translate the energy of this word into English from the Greek, but it refers to an attitude change. You could say an earnest person is sincerely serious about their walk with God. When you have sin in your heart you lose sight (Psalm 7:14) of Jesus standing beside you (Matthew 28:20) and lose the gravity of life. You forget that God is above looking down (Hebrews 4:13), or just care very little, if at all. But let’s be real. If Jesus, post resurrection, were physically standing right next to you, then things would be very different. Just because he is there in spirit does not mean he is not literally standing there. Are you serious? Get serious. Be careful.

Are you eager to repent? This is absolutely a reference to urgency. When someone has Godly sorrow they are eager for vindication. Apologies flow off the tongue. An eager person does not wait to confess their sin to God. Consider David’s urgency when God used Nathan to bring his sin to light in 2 Samuel 12. David had no hesitation to confess to Nathan and God and quickly requested forgiveness. Eagerness means as soon as possible!

Do you feel indignant? Indignation comes from irritation. When sin finds you out it should be irritating. Not that you got caught! Not that it’s embarrassing! The irritation comes from connecting to the cross of Christ. Your sin killed Jesus. You think of the way things should have gone. You make decisions to never let it happen again. This spiritual anger is displayed throughout the Bible in many instances. Take for example Jesus clearing the Temple in John 2, or Moses killing the Egyptian in Exodus 2, or Moses burning the golden calf in Exodus 34. Share God’s heart and “Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” (Romans 12:9)

Are you afraid? In the Greek, “alarm” is “fear,” Phobos. What scares you more: How God views you? Or how people are going to view you? You cannot please men completely (Galatians 1:10). You need to fear eternal consequences (Matthew 10:28). I love the heart of the psalmist, “Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.” (Psalm 2:11) Paul also writes about this when he says, “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). Before the Israelites were given the Ten Commandments in Exodus 34, fifteen chapters prior they trembled in the presence of God. (Exodus 19:16) Be afraid. Be very afraid.

What “longing?” Longing is a term rarely used. The KJV says, “vehement desire.” In other words: There is nothing you want more than to repent. You want to repent like you want water on a tremendously hot day. You want to repent like you want a snack in the middle of the night. At this point, you may lose your appetite or have a hard time sleeping until your soul rests in the surety of your repentance. How badly do you want it?

How concerned are you? In the KJV, the word is “zeal.” Your zeal in repentance is not to hit the streets in evangelism or make up for your sin by some self-soothing method. Your zeal is purely for the righteousness of God. Your zeal is on behalf of the person you’ve sinned against. Empathetically, you zealously want to see repentance. Your heart is fully connected to the consequences and you’re as zealous as the other person, or God, to see repentance. Let your zeal match that of the other person to see your repentance. Got that?

Are you ready? All sin has consequence. None more devastating as death. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) In the Old Testament when people sinned against God the consequence recorded was often death. In fact, if you add up every instance where people sinned against God and he paid them back with death, you’d calculate a number over 2,500,000. Now, that may hurt your heart to hear. It is good to know, however, because that is how intensely God hates unrighteousness. That number does not include 49 other times where numbers were not recorded, two of which were the flood and the plagues in Egypt. Therefore, some scholars estimate that sin has killed over 24,000,000 people in the Bible. But, the truth is, if there were no sin in the world then there would be no death at all. So, really, every person who has ever died, died because of their sin. God is to be revered. Today we serve the same God who is capable of the same powerful display. When moments pass and sin is not avenged with death then come times of refreshing (Acts 3:19) and appreciation for another opportunity to repent (Titus 2:11; Romans 2:4). Truly, God grants repentance! (2 Timothy 2:25)

In the case where sin finds you out (Numbers 32:23) the best option is to repent. Godly sorrow is the fruit of true repentance. I get so encouraged by the grace of God. It is only because of the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8) that mankind can be forgiven by the blood of Jesus (Romans 3:25).

I pray that this Bible study greatly helps you. The Scriptures are true. If you are a baptized disciple of Jesus Christ your greatest challenge from now until Jesus’ return or your soul’s departure is perseverance. You will face many challenges in life, none of which will be greater than the battle in your heart against sin. A man or a woman of God who is filled with Godly sorrow will be untouchable by circumstance. They will find a peace and joy deep down in their heart given to them by God. “You know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:9) You know that “we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin.” (Hebrews 4:15) Be encouraged to persevere to have Godly sorrow deeply embedded in your heart.

In closing let me remind you: “Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15) Once repented, get motivated! Live for Christ because he lives in you. A disciple of godly sorrow revolutionizes the world. Let us be the trailblazers who are compelled by Christ’s love to evangelize our lost world in this generation. God will use his sorrowful family of believers to do the impossible!

]]>3632Irene Joyfully Baptised into the Kingdom of God!http://www.sydneyicc.org/2017/09/18/irene-joyfully-baptised-into-the-kingdom-of-god/
Mon, 18 Sep 2017 12:55:05 +0000http://www.sydneyicc.org/?p=3740Irene came to Sydney from China to study law in UNSW. However, when she was called by God the first time, she wasn’t ready and ran away from God. Praise God, his hand is never Continue Reading

Irene came to Sydney from China to study law in UNSW. However, when she was called by God the first time, she wasn’t ready and ran away from God. Praise God, his hand is never too short to reach, and her classmate, who is also a disciple, invited her to bible talk a second time. She returned with a changed heart, seeking God with her whole heart. Consequently, she felt God working in her life, finding Him in prayer. Irene was an amazing example of repentance, a 180 degree change in heart, mind, and in the way she acted. After she learnt how much her sin hurt God, she made a decision to change the way she lives and commit the rest of her life to Jesus Christ. Now she’s accepted into God’s kingdom and this family with great joy and tears!

]]>3740An International Day for the Sydney Church!http://www.sydneyicc.org/2017/09/14/an-international-day-for-the-sydney-church/
Thu, 14 Sep 2017 06:12:57 +0000http://www.sydneyicc.org/?p=3692“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Continue Reading

]]>“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20

Over the weekend we had an amazing International Day Sunday Service here at the Sydney church! With over 135 in attendance, it certainly seemed like we had “every nation under heaven” (Acts 2:5) present together, celebrating and worshipping God! For the first time in the Sydney church, we had the service open with an incredible and inspiring international prayer, reflecting the amazing diversity and cosmopolitan mix of the church and of our city. The prayer was done in 14 languages: English, Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin), Korean, Japanese, French, Spanish, German, Samoan, Indonesian, Igbo, Vietnamese, Shona, and Annang!

It was truly an International service; with our German brother Dominik welcoming us, our Ghanaian sister Leslie sharing her recent trials and testing for communion, and our Chinese Australian brother Aaron speaking on contribution and giving to God. Joe Willis preached an amazing sermon breaking down the most powerful and compelling proof for God’s existence, his Word. Truly “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5) To end out an amazing day, we saw Betty from Taiwan making Jesus Lord of her life and getting baptised!

“Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.” -Acts 2:5

“In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world —just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.” -Colossians 1:6

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” -Acts 1:8